Millwall 2 Ipswich 1

It was perhaps fitting of the change in profile that, despite Ipswich Towns trip to The New Den representing the first game in charge for a new manager, it felt very much a case of “after the Lord Mayors Show”.
Whilst Roy Keanes first ever match at the helm of a Town side had brought with it the media scrum that would become common place over his spell in charge, Paul Jewells introduction to Ipswich Town was a suitably subdued affair, overshadowed as it was by the hangover from the memorable Cup victory over Arsenal just three days earlier.
Jewell himself was nonetheless enthused by the return to management, as he told the BBC after the match. “Its great to be back as a manager, but its not great to be doing press conferences after weve lost.”
“Its a tough place, lovely supporters behind the dugout! Ive missed that at Millwall!”.
As if to emphasise the differences between himself and the previous manager, Paul Jewells first team selection was an unchanged side; something which had become a rarity under Keane.
It was a decision which looked to be heading in the right direction as, after Millwall had created a couple of decent chances, Town took the lead through Tamas Priskin, the Hungarian breaking free up front before sliding the ball under David Forde from an acute angle. With his second goal in successive matches, Priskin showed that he has evidently been the first player to benefit significantly from Keanes exit. Only two weeks previously, Priskin had failed to find himself a place in the squad.
Priskin was gifted a further chance later in the half, as Jaime Peters cross inadvertently bounced off the bar, catching the striker off-guard as he miscued into the stand. It would prove to be the turning point of the match.
Shortly afterwards, with Town closing in on another confidence boost as half-time approach, the lead, and some confidence, was dismantled as first Schofield netted for the Lions and then, moments later, Steve Morison went perilously close to turning the match on its head, as he fired over the bar when it would have perhaps been easier to score.
And with that, the die was cast. Millwall gained a foothold in the game and Town began to look like the side which had slumped down the table in recent months, rather than the energetic side which had managed to defeat Arsenal days earlier. As the match wore on, the impact of that particular match on Towns fitness loomed large.
With Town failing to make any inroads towards the visitors goal, it finally fell to Morison to find the winning goal, having been played through in an onside position, despite protestations from the Town backline, before tucking the ball under Fulop.
Inevitably, Ipswich pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, with Scotland having replaced Mark Kennedy to form a two-man front line, but created little, save for a golden opportunity at the death which fell to Scotland, the Trinidadian failing to beat Forde.
Paul Jewell will have learnt as much about his side in this defeat, as he would have in the win over Arsenal, something not lost on the Manager “You could see today that they’re lacking a little bit of confidence. I know they won on Wednesday but I think Wednesday was a bit of a one-off.”
“They’re a bit anxious in certain areas, we need to try to get them to relax a little bit more and try and have a little bit more belief.”
Given the exertions of the previous match, it was perhaps unsurprising that the performance level couldn’t be maintained throughout the match. However, the side demonstrated many of the failings that Roy Keane had bemoaned in his last few weeks- namely a failure to build on a lead and look to kill the game off.
With Priskin having played a prominent role once again as a lone forward, his own circumstances would appear to have turned completely, as he looks to be the striker most likely to retain his place at the club in the coming weeks. With the return of Rory Fallon to Plymouth, it would seem that Jewells focus for the transfer window will be in those striking positions.
In contrast to his comments initially on taking over the job, Jewell appears more focused on the need to bring in additional bodies, something which the subsequent matches may have alerted him to “We have more than capable players and with one or two additions we’ll be okay.....and I have the names in mind”.
After the roller-coaster of the last two weeks, Saturdays match signified the end of a particularly busy period for the club. The new manager will no doubt welcome having an entire week to familiarise with his new squad, ahead of Saturday match against Doncaster. However, in light of Jewells comments on new signings, it might prove to be just as busy.